‘Fuggedaboudit’ the motto of new Italian deli on Texas 105

Kimberly Sutton

Published
5:17 pm CDT, Saturday, July 12, 2014

Chef Tony Nicoletta works early in the morning Wednesday preparing for his first day of business at the new Tony’s Italian Delicatessen on Texas 105 West. Fresh cheeses and cold cuts are readily available, as well as hot, stuffed Italian sandwiches. less

Chef Tony Nicoletta works early in the morning Wednesday preparing for his first day of business at the new Tony’s Italian Delicatessen on Texas 105 West. Fresh cheeses and cold cuts are readily available, as ... more

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Chef Tony Nicoletta works early in the morning Wednesday preparing for his first day of business at the new Tony’s Italian Delicatessen on Texas 105 West. Fresh cheeses and cold cuts are readily available, as well as hot, stuffed Italian sandwiches. less

Chef Tony Nicoletta works early in the morning Wednesday preparing for his first day of business at the new Tony’s Italian Delicatessen on Texas 105 West. Fresh cheeses and cold cuts are readily available, as ... more

Photo: @WireImgId=2682851

‘Fuggedaboudit’ the motto of new Italian deli on Texas 105

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Love is what brought Tony Nicoletta to Texas from New York.

The transplant has opened Tony’s Italian Delicatessen on Texas 105 West in Montgomery.

From the moment people walk in the door, they will feel as though they just stepped into a Brooklyn deli right off the streets of New York. Nicoletta is 100 percent Italian and speaks the language fluently.

He grew up being neighbors to actor Tony Danza and even boxed with him in the ring occasionally. They’re still friends. One of his sandwiches is named after Danza.

The smell of fresh-baked bread and the sight of melted mozzarella makes one’s mouth water.

He was making everything by hand Wednesday morning before people started arriving for his first day full day of business at 10 a.m. Since then, Nicoletta said he has only been getting about four hours of sleep each night.

“Thursday was busier than Wednesday,” he said.

People are coming in for the authentic deli sandwiches: Focaccia, Muffalettas, deli salads, cannoli, cookies, cinnamon rolls, Italian imports and groceries. Freshly made Banza breads, which means belly in Italian, are served right out of the oven. They sell for only $6.

Nicoletta said northeasterners, who live in April Sound and Walden, have been waiting for his deli to open.

“Half of them are either from Jersey or Connecticut, I can’t believe it,” Nicoletta said.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and raised in Utica, Nicoletta joined the Marines and served in Vietnam. When he returned home from the service, he went to culinary school in Hyde Park, he said.

Nicoletta is not lacking in experience. He has been cooking and opening his own restaurants for more than 30 years. He has owned 15 restaurants.

After making the decision to move to Texas, he thought he would start a small eatery and “relax.”

“I wanted to build something that I know I can eat, because there is nothing like this around here,” he said. “I took this location in an area that I think is going to grow and the people have been pouring in. And everybody that comes in is amazed. I mean the place is cute.”

He reincarnated a deli from where he was raised.

“The owner had the market out front, it’s too hot here though, and he had the vegetables. He had the Banza stuffed breads and fresh, beautiful cold cuts,” Nicoletta said. “And I said, ‘I’ll do it for him.’”

The deli sandwich menu on the wall features unique sandwiches named after famous New Yorkers. He also has Italian celebrity photos on the wall, including an autographed photo of Frank Sinatra that was signed and given to his parents.

The footlong subs are crusty, flaky and fresh and are topped with fresh produce, which sell for about $6. Everything is made fresh and by Nicoletta’s hands.

Customers also can choose from the Dean Martin, the Leonardo DiCaprio, the Joe Pesci, the Liza Minelli, the John Travolta and the Tony Danza.

One of his New York friends commented on the deli’s Facebook page, “This is in Texas? They don’t know how lucky they are!”

Nicoletta has truly brought a taste of Italy with a Brooklyn flavor to Montgomery County. There are no right words to describe it; the food, the atmosphere, the Italian imported items, and the exceptional customer service.

Visit his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TonysItalianDelicatessenTexas or “Fuggedaboudit,” as Nicoletta likes to say.